ATLANTA - If LSU hadn't blocked an extra point in the second quarter, there wouldn't have been quite as much pressure on Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro. It didn't matter, though.

Clemson kicker Chandler Catanzaro (39), center, gets a hug from a coach after he kicked the winning field goal to beat LSU in the final seconds of the Chick-fil-A Bowl. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

Catanzaro, nearly perfect for his career, booted a 37-yard field goal as time expired to give Clemson a 25-24 comeback victory over LSU in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve.

"I was hoping that I'd get a chance," Catanzaro said. "It's a great feeling to win a game like this. It was unbelievable. I have to thank the team for setting me up. It seemed like that last drive was meant to be."

It was the second time that the junior had a chance to win a game as time expired and he didn't flinch either time. But there was a lot less on the line when he connected against Wake Forest last season.

"I don't know about you, but I didn't have any doubt," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said of the winning kick. "Just a clutch player all the way."

Cantanzaro, who kicked a 27-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, has missed only one field goal out of 41 tries in his career. That was three seasons ago. He was 14 of 14 each of the last two seasons after going 12-for-13 as a freshman.

Watkins injured earlyClemson had to overcome a double blow on the on the second play of the game.

Sammy Watkins, getting a ball at tailback, was crushed by Barkevious Mingo on a carry and fumbled, with Craig Lofton of LSU recovering at the 23-yard line.

Down on the Georgia Dome turf for several minutes Watkins was helped off with a right ankle injury and Clemson was down one of its top offensive threats.

Soon Clemson was behind. Jeremy Hill ran 17 yards for a touchdown on the second play after the fumble and LSU led just 55 seconds into the game.

"I told my team that there would be adversity, but I didn't think it would come on the second play."

Watkins set a Clemson record for receiving yards with 1,219 yards on 82 catches as a freshman last season and came into the Chick-fil-A Bowl with 2,258 career yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns despite being suspended for the first two games this season and missing another.

Clemson also lost starting right tackle Gifford Timothy, who injured his left knee later in the first quarter.

Clemson defense comes throughThe Clemson defense, looked down on since giving up 70 points in an Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia last season, rose to the occasion against LSU.

Defensive end Malliciah Goodman had two of Clemson's six sacks and LSU managed just nine first downs.

"We just sit here and smile at it," Goodman said of the SEC's perceived dominance. "We just believed in ourselves the whole season. It's a great stepping stone for next year. ... There were a lot of people who said we couldn't beat LSU, but we believed in ourselves."

"I really felt that the defense came together," said linebacker Jonathan Willard. "When we need a big stop, we were all on the same page. Beating a team like LSU that played in the championship game a year ago makes us feel like we're ready to take the next step."